DRAW: 114-114
Manny Pacquiao: 115-113
Manny Pacquiao: 116-112
PRE-FIGHT: Great tribute to the late great Joe Frazier before the fight. Now the singing of the National Anthems as both fighters wamr up in their locker rooms. Wow. HBO reveals that Marquez weighs more than Pacquiao tonight, coming in at 150 while Pacquiao tips the unofficial scales at 148. Juan Manuel Marquez enters the ring accompanied by a mariachi band. A smiling Manny Pacquiao again walks to the ring to Survivor's Eye of the Tiger, with the band's singer.
Round 1: This fight is underway. It's a raucous atmosphere in Las Vegas with the fans supporting Marquez, and Pacquiao lands an early left hand to Marquez's nose that causes the fans to ooh and ah. A good flurry of punches they both connect with and and then more from Pacquiao.
Round 2: After a fast-paced first round both men are a little slower early in the second, perhaps trying to avoid making the first mistake in the fight. Marquez is trying to go to Pacquiao's body, but Pacquiao doesn't seem to be feeling anything. Pacquiao is moving quickly and punching crisply. Now Marquez lands a body shot and an uppercut. Pacquiao connects with a right hook. It's a close second round.
Round 3: Marquez lands a short uppercut. Pacquiao's movement seems to be frustrating Marquez, but Pacquiao isn't landing a lot of punches -- he's more active with his footwork than he is with his hands. A hard right hook from Pacquiao connects to Marquez's temple.
Round 4: Pacquiao lands a good left hook and then backs away and makes Marquez miss. Pacquiao comes in wildly and gets off balance but Marquez can't take advantage. Marquez lands two to the body effectively. Pacquiao lands a left and Marquez lands a right, and it's another close round.
Round 5: Marquez is continuing to go to the body, but Pacquiao is mostly blocking those punches. Now Marquez lands a big right to Pacquiao's head, and that one has Pacquiao reeling. Marquez with a good left hand now. Marquez is starting to get through and hurting Pacquiao. By far the best round of the fight for Marquez.
Round 6: Pacquiao charges inside, Marquez makes him pay with a right hand counter, but then Pacquiao comes right back with a hard left of his own. A great exchange. Pacquiao lands a right hook and Marquez with a left hook.
Round 7: Marquez lands a very big right hand that backs Pacquiao up. Now another hard shot from Marquez. Pacquiao appears to have some blood around his mouth. Now Pacquiao knocks Marquez back with a shot to the head. Marquez lands a left and then Pacquiao swings and misses.
Round 8: Marquez is countering very effectively and lands a good right cross. A good right hand to the head from Marquez. Pacquiao may be a little frustrated right now because he hasn't been tested the way Marquez is testing him in a long time.
Round 9: Marquez throws a 1-2 that Pacquiao blocks, then Marquez lands one to the back of Pacquiao's head. Marquez lands a couple of good combinations. Now they're back-and-forth brawling with Marquez appearing to get the better of some exchanges, only to have Pacquiao swarm and knock Marquez off balance. Pacquiao explodes in the final seconds of the round and that may have been enough to give the round for Pacquiao.
Round 10: Both guys came out of their corners looking a little bit worn out after that incredible flurry to end the ninth round. A couple of furious exchanges now which have Pacquiao backing up and gesturing that Marquez hit him with a head butt. Pacquiao has a cut over his right eye that he seems to think came from a head butt, but the referee hasn't ruled on that. Pacquiao appears to be frustrated and Marquez has been the aggressor in this round.
Round 11: The Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed between rounds that Pacquiao's cut came from an accidental clash of heads. Pacquiao lands a big left to Marquez's head. Marquez looked hurt by that one. They exchange hard rights, then Marquez lands a left as well. I think Pacquiao has connected on a few more punches than Marquez has in this crucial round.
Round 12: Marquez's corner is telling him that he's winning the fight, and Freddie Roach seems to think Marquez is winning, too, because he told Pacquiao he needs to knock Marquez down in this round. I'm not so sure. Good left hand from Pacquiao. Marquez seems to be playing it safe, which is no surprise considering that his corner told him he's winning. Pacquiao's mouthpiece falls out of his mouth which causes a brief respite. Marquez has a big overhand right. Pacquiao goes to the body. Pacquiao with a big left. The fight ends with them toe to toe.
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